Tag Archive

I spoke yesterday at the Illinois Renewable Energy Fair in Oregon, IL, and the presentation will be posted shortly on ILSR.org. Being out in rural Illinois made me wonder, Why Aren’t Rural Electric Cooperatives Champions of Local Clean Power? A few thoughts shared on the blog… Keep your energy local! …

On the air talking solar ownership! Community solar gardens are now set to grow in Minnesota, but the PUC decision shows a few weeds that were planted in the original rules for solar adopted in 2013. And I’m on the air talking solar ownership with Arnie Arnesen on WNHN. If …

Last week, Minnesota’s utility regulators approved the first state “value of solar” methodology – could it make everyone a winner? Also, I’m off to testify on a bill in Minnesota to study greater energy freedom for cities; specifically, to require a study of community choice aggregation, or as I refer to it, “municipalization …

Last week, I summarized the impact of the judicial ruling requiring Xcel Energy to buy peaking power from solar instead of natural gas: Five Reasons Solar’s Win Over Gas in Minnesota is Just the Beginning. Also, I was quoted by Minnesota Public Radio about the release of the Minneapolis Energy Pathways …

The #1 solar utility – in Iowa? Check out the latest from our Local Energy Rules podcast, where we interview the general manager of a small cooperative utility that’s setting records for solar per customer, and customer participation in local clean energy. Also, I was on KFAI radio in Minneapolis this morning …

Is your state lagging on its energy code for buildings? This new graphic illustrates the relative energy efficiency of standard building energy codes and shows which states are lagging (and what that lag costs consumers on their energy bills). And in honor of the American Labor Day holiday this past weekend, an …

Grassroots pressure makes a difference, as Minneapolis’ city council unanimously adopts a framework for advancing local energy goals thanks to work of the Minneapolis Energy Options campaign (ILSR a leading partner). For more on the local energy effort, check outmy published commentary on the city of Minneapolis’ flirtation with a municipal electric utility at the …

I wonder why Xcel Energy ignores solar when it asks ratepayers to finance 3 new natural gas plants for new peaking capacity in Minnesota, I interview Brian Minish about the remarkable 600-owner South Dakota Wind Partners community wind project, and Minnesota utilities fail to mention that the 1.33% rate hike proposed in the solar …

Coming to you from the distributed energy guru I wonder why Xcel Energy ignores solar when it asks ratepayers to finance 3 new natural gas plants for new peaking capacity in Minnesota, I interview Brian Minish about the remarkable 600-owner South Dakota Wind Partners community wind project, and Minnesota utilities fail to mention that the …